The off-licence shut down after its alcohol licence was revoked in March when staff were caught selling alcohol four times to underage drinkers.

Police acted after complaints from residents about teenage drinkers loitering outside the Green Street shop.

They carried out three test purchases with the help of undercover youngsters and Trading Standards did one test.

This sparked a review of the licence, with neighbours giving police statements about crowds of teenagers, noise, litter and underage drinking from April 2006 to January 2007.

Now residents have penned letters of objection to Eastbourne Borough Council in the light of an application for a new premises licence for Trident Stores.

Kareen Plympton, licensing manager, said in a report to the council, "The premises is a long-established and former retail store, previously licensed for off-sales of alcohol.

"It is intended that the site will be refurbished to create a grocery store to include the sale of alcohol."

The owners hope to be able to sell alcohol between the hours of 8am and 11pm, all week long.

Twenty-seven local residents have written to the council complaining about the application and fearing more 'verbal and physical abuse', children drinking in the streets, noise, broken glass and litter.

The police have also submitted a report to the licensing committee.

Inspector Nick Wainwright said, "I have met with the licensing agent representing the applicant, Bernard Hall, and have discussed the proposed plans for the premises.

"I am satisfied that the previous problems experienced at Joe's Corkscrew were attributable to the poor management of the business by the then owners and are not due to the premises per se."

However, he asked councillors to consider placing restrictions on any licence, including installation of a CCTV system, keeping an incidents log, a robust written policy about identification needed when buying alcohol, regular training and high value alcohol to be kept under proper supervision at the till.

The licence will be discussed at a meeting on Wednesdsay.

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